The Arca-Swiss B1 Monoball head
by Ed Alban

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GLANCING BACK AT MY PREVIOUS 3-WAY TRIPOD HEAD

Before going into the actual usage of the Arca-Swiss B1, let me take a nostalgic look at the Bogen 3047 (Manfrotto 029), the perennial favorite when it comes to 3-way pan heads.  It's popularity is partly due to the head’s very good design and (I believe) to its mention in John Shaw’s book “Closeups in Nature”. The 3047 had been my tripod head since 1987.

Bogen 3047 (Manfrotto 029) 3-Way tripod head

Before that, I had a Bogen 3025.  The 3025 (Manfrotto 056) was a small light head that I rarely used because for me it was hard to use, period.  It also did not have a quick-release mechanism and instead of buying the 3299 slim quick release adapter with plate (Manfrotto 323), I gave up on it after a few months, exchanging it for a 3047.

FEATURES

The Bogen 3047 is one of Bogen’s more upscale designs.  It has three large handles to control independent tilting, leveling and panning.  That means you can vary the amount of movement in one direction without affecting the setup of the other two.  This allows for very precise camera control and the long handles do ensure you have that precision control.  I find that this type of head lends itself very well to very tight framing of stationary objects.  Macro is one good application for it.

The three handles are removable for storage and travel, they just need unscrewing.  My version of the 3047 is the older type where the handles are leaner and longer than the new shorter and fatter versions you see today.   The length of these three handles allow for easy gripping and maneuverability.  The head has built-in bubble levels for both tilt and level orientation.  Honestly, I can count on my one hand the times I’ve used these levels, but many people find them useful.

Over the 15 years I’ve used it, I have found a few quirks with my 3047.  Some of them can be fatally dangerous to your camera and lens if unaware or careless.

• When mounting the camera and plate to the head, ensure that the two sides of the hex plate slide under the two lips on the head.  If they don’t, the plate won’t be held captive.  There were many times I have heard that satisfying “click” of the lever snapping shut only to find my camera loose atop the plate.  Shudder.  I now have the habit of jiggling the camera a little to ensure the plate is solidly seated within the head’s cavity.

• There is no anti-twist mechanism on the 3049 hexagonal plate. For that you need the 3267 (Manfrotto 030ARCH-14) architectural alignment mounting plate. Mine has a cork-like material atop the plate, which Bogen claims to be a “friction” surface, whatever that means.  It is certainly not anti-slip if not very very tight.  It can be quite frustrating to have carefully composed your shot and have it ruined by an accidental nudge that moves your lens a few degrees off kilter.  As well, vertical shots can be problematic with heavy lenses. My 105 AF-micro is not a very heavy lens, but when I tilt the head to vertical, the lens slightly droops because the weight of the lens makes the camera twist on the plate.  Due to this, I rarely leave the camera on the tripod and walk with it slung on my shoulder as I have seen many people do.

• The three long handles can catch onto the most absurd things.  Better watch it when traveling.  I’ve had heads (human) knocked with it; I had it caught in other people’s collars, a woman’s hair, or another guy’s backpack, etc.   Personally, I have had a couple of my front shirt pockets ripped by the back handle.  Apparently, when I’m composing low-angle shots and looking in the viewfinder, it dips into my shirt pocket without my knowing.  Ergo, the pocket rips as I stand up.  If my hand were not on the camera, the whole rig would have toppled forward.

• The head itself is heavy at 3.3 lbs (1.5Kg) and gets heavier on a long day of shooting.

• The hex plate cannot be left on the camera for storage.  The whole underside is about 1 inch deep due to the main screw and huge locking knob around it.  I once left it on overnight in my bag and the plate made a huge indentation on the bag pads.  Some bags might not even accommodate the extra height it gives the camera.  I know my F4s won’t fit into my Mini-Trekker with the hex plate on.

• The hex plate can dig into your chest as you walk around with the camera and strap around your neck.  There’s no way around this problem except to take the plate off or sling the camera on one shoulder.  Hex plates do have six sides and six points!  Due to the orientation of the head’s fixed cavity, the plate has to be positioned on the camera so that one of the six points would dig into your sternum, if you decide to carry it around your neck.

• The 3-way action can be too slow for some type of photography.  There are many times I have loosened two handles at the same time to speed up my framing.  I have actually gotten quite good at it.  Mind you, it is not without its pitfalls.  There are also many times I have forgotten to tighten one or the other handle!  Only quick reflexes prevented the camera from flopping over.

Nevertheless, aware of its faults, it served me well for over 15 years, at a most affordable price.